St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-10
PROHIBITION.
AMONG THE LEADERS
OF THE PARTY.
Discussion About Where the Next Ma
tional Convention Will be Held-Indian-
apoIis the Choice of the Maiority-No
Date for its Assembling as Yet Fixed.

apOilS the SnOlce Oh Ine NaJoiisS
Date for its Assembling as Yet Fixed.
At national Prohibition headq quarters,
Chicago. there is little discussion OF he
things to be settled at the national com
mittee meeting, but every effort IS being
put forth by Secretary Jutkins and bis
lieutenants to perfect arrangements 50
that the committee, when it convcncs,
may be able to consider suggestions and
adopt plans without having is attention
distracted by inferior matters
Correspondence from nearly all the
Northern and some Of the Southern
States indicates lively interest on the
part Of members Of the national commit
tee and Prohibition workers in general,
The attendance promises to he very
large and to represent every State Al
ready calls have come from New England
for reserved seats at the mass meeting.
Local arrangements are being made for
special cars to carry delegations TO the
city. The place Of holding the national
convention of lSSS is q matter that has
not been discussed yet with very much
warmth. Chicago has been suggested
because 1t Is the representative central
city of the country, and because It's daily
papers are entcrprising and have great
circulation. But the Chicago Frohibi-
tionists modcstly refrain from urging
their claims indianapolis seems To bc
the choice of the largest number. They
say that it is central, accessible and is III
doubtful State, and that the party
in Indiana needs the inspiration that
great gathering of that kind would
wiye-an inspiration which would lose
force in Iar4cr city like Chicago.
indianapolis has good hotel accommodate
tions and Il new. Wcll-tUrniShcd hall
one Of the largest in the country. Louis
Vile has been suggested by a good many,
the argument being that it is desirable to
aid the party organization in the South.
Similar reasons are urged in behalf OF
Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta.
There is a pressure from the East TO
bring the convention to New \ Ork or
Philadelphia. and some persons in other
parts of the country name New York as
their first or second choice.
No fixed dates for the convention have
been suggested at headquarters, either
by letter or otherwise: but in a genera!
way it is thought best by most OF those
who have expressed themselves to hold
the convention early and without refer
enCe to the time OF meeting OF other
party conventions. No especial reasons
are urged for this view, but on the other
hand no objections at all are suggested.
There is sometimes an objection raised TO
a long campaign; but it is recognized
that the Prohibition campaign of 1888
will open the moment the conference OF
next week breaks up. The formal open
ing therefore. it is said, should be at an
early day,
The question of who shall be chairman
of the national committee, to succeed the
late John B. Finch, seems to be reduced
to question as between Professor A. n.
Hopkins, of Rochester, n. y, and Pro
fessor Samuel Dickie, of Albion, Mich.
Others have been mentioned, and their
claims may possibly be urged; but the
present outlook seems to foreshadow the
selection of either Hopkins or Dickie
Mr.. Dickie, it is represented, is an ad-
mirable presiding officer for popular
gathering, and has demonstrated
his executive and general capacity
by doing splendid work in man
aging campaigns and in speaking in the
field. Mr.. Hopkins friends urge
his fitness for various reasons. He is,
they say, an old leader of the party, ia
miIiar with the work already accom-
plished, and is probably more conversant
with the political outlook than any other
man in the party. His good political
Judgment has been constantly tried and
proved; he has been able to forecast
Prohibition defeats and victories with
almost prophetic accuracy; he is an able
defender and exponent of Prohibition
&c Soly
known and almost as eagerly sought
after everywhere as was MIR. Finch; he
has had long experience in the field as an
organizer, which has peculiarly fitted
him for the craftsmanship.
The suggestions that have so FAR been
received at headquarters seem to indicate
that there is a demand for national Or
ganiZation to aid the chairman. The
duties of chairman and organizer are
similar and yet distinct. The chairman
cannot do detail work, especially in such
a presidential campaign as that of next
year will be, because the calls for his
presence will be too many by far. 1t
is urged that he should have a national
organizer to act as his lieutenant and
attend to the details; to visit State
committees and cooperate with them In
promoting county organization; to work
in harmony with the chairman and sec
retary and get the willing workers to
make systematic and intelligent effort
The choice of man for national
organizer, should one be thought
necessary, must rest with the ma
tional committee. Walter Thomas
Mills, of Ohio, is favorably named as a
man having all the qualities that are de-
sirable. The particular recommendation
of him is that he antagonizes people as
little as any one who is as forcible as he is.
The plans of finance are not yet elab-
grated, and bat few practical measures
in that line have been suggested. T. {:
Richmonds financial proposition, and
the plan suggested at the recent Cleve-
land meeting of State chairmen. are the
only schemes of finance presented as
yet. The proposed Finch Memorial Fund
is generally considered as a special and
additional fund that should be raised
apart from the general campaign fund,
and one that should, if pressed, receive
the especial attention of the committee
at its meetlng.-Now York Voice.